Hikers men win fifth hockey title

Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Tournament…

By Treiston Joseph

Leading men’s goal scorer Robert France scored one of his eight goals last evening to lead the Hikers Hockey Club to a fifth championship in the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Tournament at the National Gymnasium.
It was a grueling effort in 40 minutes of play for the Hikers men as they came out with a 3-1 victory in the final.
Back and forth play was the order for most of the first half as both teams jostled for position in the opening minutes of play before a sudden strike by Hikers’ Jerazeno Bell in the final minute of the first half going into halftime.
Much like the first half it was mainly back and forth play between both teams as the final four minutes of the physical match-up saw three goals scoring.
The leading goal scorer in the men’s competition proved his worth by putting his team ahead and ensured victory for his men’s side with a 36th minute launch that whizzed past the keeper, much to the approval of the Hikers’ fans in attendance.
Two minutes after in the 38th minute young Aroydy Brandford put the nail in the coffin with a hard strike that echoed through the Gymnasium.
Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player Orlando Semple struck back with a consolation goal in the final minute of play to salvage some pride for the GCC players.
Earlier, The Hikers veteran men did not disappoint their large fane base as they came out with a gritty 5-4 extra-time victory over GCC veterans.
The Hikers veterans wasted no time in finding their rhythm as Brian Asrerado netted the opening goal in the opening minute of play just before eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) Devin Munroe from Hikers dropped another early goal for his team in the fifth minute.
GCC did not sit around to watch the onslaught from the Hikers veterans as they replied in the 10th minute with a goal from the leading veteran goal in scorer Philip Fernandes.
Alan Fernandes in the 13th minute then leveled the game for GCC with a superb finish to end the half with the score on 2-2.
Six minutes after the start of the second part, the rejuvenated play of the Hikers veterans saw some beautiful passes being finished off with a simple strike from Munroe in the 26th minute. The 31st minute saw the game being equalized at 3-3 as A. Fernandes blasted a shot that whipped the back of the net.
Hikers then went ahead in the 33rd minute with a strike from Sheldon Corlette just before Devin Hooper equalised the game yet again to make it -4-4 in the 38th minute to end regulation time.
Tense moments during extra-time as both teams scuffled to come out on top as the 45th minute was the game changer as a strike from George Melville went into the back of the net to the anguish of the GCC players as they eventually lost to the Hikers 5-4.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, sponsored by Digicel, Toronto Academy from Canada showed their superiority and goal-scoring prowess as they downed Magnolias from Trinidad 6-2.
Early scoring by both hockey clubs were definite crowd pleasers as fans seemed enthused by the quick and fast pace of the game that saw Magnolias opening with the first goal of the match in the second minute from Mika Ella Tang. The Canadian quickly responded with two goals in the eighth and 12th minute from Ally Evanyshyn before Stacey Sue Butt from the Trinidadian club, the leading women’s goal scorer in the tournament, sank her 18th goal with a quick strike to equalise the game at 2-2 that eventually ended the half.
However, in the second half it was all Canadian dominance as the superior passing and technical way of playing the game uprooted the Trinidadians, scoring four straight goals in the 22nd, 26th, 27th and 29th minutes from Chelcie Mendonca, Kaelan Watson, Evanyshyn and Watson respectively to finish the game.
Meanwhile the teams at the presentation ceremony held immediately after the finals received their winning trophies and cash prizes to end an exciting night of hockey.